In the year 2131, a massive cylindrical object enters the solar system, moving at high velocity toward the sun. Initially mistaken for an asteroid and named Rama, it reveals itself as a hollow, artificial megastructure. Commander Bill Norton and the crew of the survey ship Endeavour intercept the craft to investigate its interior before it exits the system. Inside, they find a pressurized atmosphere, a centrifugal sea, and a landscape of geometric structures. The crew documents robotic entities and biological lifeforms that appear to be purpose-built for maintenance rather than civilization.
Fans of hard science fiction read this book for its focus on engineering and physics over character drama. It appeals to those who enjoy the scientific method applied to the unknown and the technical logistics of space exploration. The reader gains a realistic perspective on the scale of interstellar transit and the realization that humanity might be irrelevant to the goals of superior intelligence. The narrative leaves the origin and destination of the visitors unanswered, emphasizing the vast, indifferent nature of the cosmos.
- Published
- 1973
- Language
- EN
